Rail-joint.



M. S. PITTMAN.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.2. 191e.

1,224,785 Patented May1,1917..

Arm/mfr,

nu union.

RAIL-JOINT.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented May i, riait.

Application led August 2, 1916. Serial No. 112,687.

To all whom/15 may concern.'

Be it known that I, MosEs S. PrrTMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sawtelle, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail- Joints, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to rail joints, and my objects are to provide a comparatively inexpensive, simple and efficient device of this character which can be readily installed, will reliably hold the abutting ends of two rails in alinement, and will prevent said rails from either creeping longitudinally or spreadinglaterally.

Other objects are to provide a broad bearing surface between the bases of the rails and the underlying cross ties, to prevent said rails from cutting into the cross ties and also from turning over when subjected to enormous lateral strains exerted thereon by passing trains.

Cther objects of the invention will hereinafter appear, and in order that said invention may be fully understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing, in which: I

Figure 1 is an end view of the device in operative position, with one of the rails in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts disclosed by Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line III-III of Fig. 2.

A designates the rails each of Awhich comprises a ball B, a web C, and a base D.

In carrying outl my invention, I employ a main angle bar 1, the lower portion of which fits around the rail bases D and embodies a tie plate portion 2 having spike holes 3, through which the customary spikes may be driven to firmly secure said tie plate portion 2 to the underlying cross ties E. The upper portion l of the main member 1 parallels one side of the rail webs C and abuts the underside of the balls B. The tie plate portion 2 is folded at its longitudinal margins and connected to flange members 5 adapted to overlap the rail bases D. One of the iiange members 5 is extended into the upper portion 4f.

6 designates a supplemental angle bar, the upper portion 7 of which parallels the adjacent sides of the rail webs C and abuts the undersides of the balls B. The lower portion of said supplemental angle bar G comprises an outturned flange 8, which fits between the rail base D and the inner margin of one of the members 5 which latter forms a wing bearing on top of the adjacent side of the rail base.

The members 1 and 6 extend across the joint between the two rails and are firmly secured to the latter by bolts and nuts G and H, respectively.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the upper portions of the members l and 6 not only sustain the balls of the rails but also reinforce the webs C, while the tie plate portion 2 of the main member 1 prevents the rail bases D from sinking into the underlying cross ties and also overcomes any tendency of the rails tipping laterally or spreading when subjected to tremendous side pressure exerted by passing trains. In this respect, the device is especially efficient on curves which are subjected to enormous lateral strains by heavy trains rounding said curves. Longitudinal creeping of the rails is also overcome as the member 1 is firmly secured by spikes to the cross tie E, while the upper portion of said member is secured to the rails by the bolts G and the nuts H. The device is readily applied to the ends of the rails by slipping it longitudinally thereon.

W'hile I have shown and described the device as a rail joint it is to be understood that it can be used to advantage intermediate the ends f the rails to prevent the latter from spreading. Cn curves or straight track one or more of the devices can be applied to each rail between the ends thereof as required, and when so used the members 6, the bolts G and the nuts H may be dispensed with, as the members 1 will firmly hold the rails without bolting them thereto.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that I have produced a device embodying all the features of advantage above enumerated, and while I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, I reserve the right to make' such changes in the arrangement of parts as properly fall within the spirit and scope of the claim.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

In a device of the character set forth, a tie plate having each of its sides folded over to form outer contacting parts, .said sides being bent upwardly to form shoulders to engage the opposite sides of the rail base, one of said sides being extended to engage the top oi one side ofthe rail base and one side of the rail web and head, the other side having a wing terminating at a point adjacent the juncture of the other side of the rail base and web and having its outer part seating on top of the last named side of the rail base at the outer side of the latter, and an angle bar engaging the head and web and the inner side part of the base of the I MOSES S. PITTMAN.

Witnesses E. W. LAWRENCE, Sr., E. WV. LAWRENCE, Jr.

@oplet of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente,

Washington, D. G. 

